These days, it seems like the most scarce thing in our life is time. There’s never enough time. We slave away at our jobs the whole week and when we get home in the evenings, or when the weekend comes, it can be almost irresistible to just want to lay down on the couch and take a load off.
While there’s certainly a time and place for that, and I can agree it can be a quite enjoyable experience just vegging out, ask yourself this — when you’re in your old years, when you look back on your life, would you wish you would have spent your spare time doing something different?
How about, instead of binging on Netflix or flipping through the channels, you got off your ass and did something with your free time? Learned a new skill, had some adventures, saw the world around you, met people and expanded your horizons. Doesn’t that sound better?
It’s so important to have hobbies to become a more well-rounded man and live a more fulfilling life. We all have our own interests and skills, so maybe not all of these will particularly interest you, but it’s a pretty comprehensive list that we compiled after putting our heads together.
Carpentry / Woodworking
I think this is a pretty badass skill to have for anything around the house. Someday I’m going to build a nice display shelf for all my vinyl albums and books, photos and other mementos. I’ve built a kitchen table twice in my life through lumber purchased at Home Depot, and while they were pretty elementary designs, it felt a lot cooler when it was DIY.
How cool does Paul Newman look as Fast Eddie Felsen in the movies The Hustler and The Color of Money? Ok, Tom Cruise was a pretty legit pool shark in the latter movie too. This is such a great bar skill to have to some bets in a hustle, and also to impress the lady in your life. We used to have a pool table in our house when I grew up and I was quite the shark for a while, but I fear I’ve gotten a bit rusty these days. Maybe this weekend I shoot some pool at a local pool hall and enjoy some adult beverages.
Golfing
As my grandpa always told me and proved himself, it’s one of those sports you can play at any age. Lots of guys outings are on the golf course, and a lot of business is done there too. My grandpa always said that the younger you start, the better you’ll be. That’s certainly true, as I haven’t golfed much in my adult years and I’m wishing I had, and I’m pretty sure my young nephew can school me on the course these days. I’;m way overdue to get better at golf, so maybe I’ll pick up this instructional golf guide from Ben Hogan.
Playing Darts
I remember one time in college I watched a buddy of mine hit bullseye after bullseye and triple-twenty after triple-twenty and thought it was the most badass thing at the time (I had quite a few drinks in me, but it was still impressive to watch). This is another great bar skill to have just like shooting pool and one I was also pretty good at for a while when we had a dartboard in an old apartment. Need to get another board these days!
The List Goes On
This is far from a comprehensive list, but just a few ideas that are better than just sitting around the house and taking it easy on the couch in front of the tv. The moral of the story is to get out there and do something, so here’s a few ideas to start with that will keep your manliness intact while you grow your skill set.
Lewis Gordon
Lewis Gordon is a successful businessman living in Boston, Massachusetts. When he’s not working, he enjoys travelling – especially tasting other cuisines, scuba diving, watching and playing soccer. Lewis also has a love of dogs and is the proud owner of an English Setter.
